OUR VIEW: Sky's limit for projects at Smyrna Airport

The Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport recently made a big step toward building a new $9.7 million hangar complex and paving the way for future growth at the airport.

More than $5 million rolled in last month from various grants from the Federal Aviation Administration through the Aeronautics Division of the Tennessee Department of Transportation as well as a contribution from the Industrial Development Board of Rutherford County and money from Rutherford County and the town of Smyrna.

The hangar complex, which is part of the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority's 20-year development plan, will be essential in landing new business for the county.

While it's not highly publicized, executives from Fortune 500 companies and major players in Rutherford County's business community fly in and out of Smyrna Airport due to the easy access. Some even keep planes there.

The project, which will include a 24,000 square-foot hangar and 13,000 square feet of development for office space and additional infrastructure, is projected to be complete by the beginning of 2015.

It's an indicator that Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Director John Black continually keeps his sights set on the future, and is in sync with the county's growing business community.

Growth in Rutherford and Davidson counties during the next two decades will result in more relief flights to Smyrna as the Nashville International Airport may eventually reach a traffic capacity, Black recently told The DNJ.

The airport has 90 acres on the east side of the runways for development, and this includes a six-acre solar farm and aircraft maintenance facilities. The west side of the airport offers a 400-acre office park, of which only about 50 acres have been developed so far.

It seems the sky is the limit.

Motlow moving on up

Motlow State Community College held an open house this week for its new building on its Smyrna campus.

The new building brings the total square feet serving students and faculty there from 17,500 to more than 50,000. And it opens the door for increased enrollment.

Prior to the opening of the new building, enrollment had hovered around 2,000, even with classes seven days a week and online. Some students were being referred to the main Motlow campus in Moore County.

The new building represents Motlow's commitment to Rutherford County and the county's interest in affordable, practical higher education.

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OUR VIEW: Sky's limit for projects at Smyrna Airport

The Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport recently made a big step toward building a new $9.7 million hangar complex and paving the way for future growth at the airport.